Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone finale fell flat, but its original pitch to HBO could have paved the way to craft a richer, slower-burn saga.

Yellowstone really used to be one of the most fan-favorite Western shows of all time, as Taylor Sheridan perfectly curated a series unlike any other.

But as spectacular as the initial seasons proved to be, the series finale wasn’t one that sat well. If anything, I, like many others, believe that Sheridan could have handled it better after Kevin Costner’s exit.

Of course, some fans even blame the actor’s departure from the show, despite being a major protagonist, as one of the prominent reasons why it failed so brutally with its finale.

But, truth be told, the disappointment from show creator Sheridan can actually be attributed to a reason that goes way before the Costner drama: a different plan for the show.

Taylor Sheridan originally planned for Yellowstone to go to HBO

Taylor Sheridan in Yellowstone. | Credits: Yellowstone / Paramount Network.

Yes, Yellowstone ended up faring perfectly with viewers worldwide just the way it was finally brought to the screens, and yes, fans probably wouldn’t want to change much in the rest of the series (except for the final season). But what if I told you that Taylor Sheridan‘s original plan for the show could have saved it from the mess it is currently in?

As surprising as it may seem, it’s only true: Sheridan initially had a different vision playing in his mind on how to bring the Duttons to life. This is because he originally took the show to HBO, which is famous for leaping at unpredictable stories, rich in complex characters. Had the network said yes, things could have fared a lot differently for the neo-Western.

However, unfortunately for him, Sheridan was told that his show wasn’t what audiences wanted, and that the pitch was ‘so Middle America’ that it felt like ‘a step backward’ for the network (as he claimed to The Hollywood Reporter). This was, arguably, a major misstep for them, as the network credited for plots like The Sopranos and True Detective is famous for never shying away from morally muddy waters and flawed characters.

But Sheridan didn’t just give up. He instead took his story to Paramount, which needed a desperate rebranding back then. They gave him the space and money, and allowed him to bring his vision to life, thus eliminating any prospect of HBO’s retracting its steps.

HBO could have seriously saved Yellowstone

The cast of Yellowstone. | Credits: Paramount Network.

It can’t be denied that the shows from HBO have been nothing short of spectacular. Over the years, pretty much every single series that the network has brought to the table hasn’t felt manufactured, but rather, intentional with each episode. Yellowstone could have fared better there, it was a slow-burn story that needed to earn the violence and drama.

That’s exactly what it couldn’t get at Paramount. Although the respective network gave Sheridan the scale to bring his series to life, it didn’t give him the proper time to let the story properly marinate, since Paramount was one to demand speed.

This eventually had the show growing a bit too fast and, unfortunately, not necessarily in the best way.

That being said, way before Kevin Costner‘s exit and the critically panned finale, had the network behind Succession taken over, things could have been much different for Yellowstone. This is because HBO shows have always had room to grow at their own pace, which eventually transforms them into the masterpieces that they are today.

Yet, as disappointing as this turn of events has turned out to be, we might as well still hope that Paramount finally understands these critical mistakes and doesn’t repeat the same with all the new spinoffs that are currently brewing with mastermind Sheridan.

Yellowstone can currently be streamed on Peacock.